Match-fit Virat Kohli raring to go

The team India captain says he is fit ahead of the third Test against England at Trent Bridge.

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After being 0-2 down in the series, it is a must-win game for the Indian team as they aim to bounce back and make it all eve before the final Test at The Oval. Captain Virat Kohli addressed the media on the eve of the 3rd Test at Trent Bridge and spoke about the team’s mindset going into this game.

“The only thing that we have spoken about is to focus on what the team requires at all times in this Test match, and when your back is against the wall, it’s the time for you not to think of anything else,” he said.

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“You can’t afford to think of anything else. If you look at it from another point of view it’s actually a good situation to be in because you literally have no room for thinking about anything else apart from what the team requires in that particular moment, throughout the course of the Test match.

“The only conversation we have had is that the only option is to win this game and nothing else, and you need to show that in your body language and in your intent, the way you prepare for the game, and the way you go about things. It’s all about you feeling positive first. That’s the conversation over the last few days.”

Talking about the team combination and changes, Virat said that it would be decided after inspecting the pitch and conditions on Saturday morning.

“It depends on what the surface is like. If there will be enough assistance for the bowlers then the extra batter might come into play, but if not, if the pitch is going to be quite even for batting and bowling, then obviously picking up 20 wickets is going to be the priority. The batsmen will still have to take responsibility and get the runs on the board,” he added.

“If you don’t take 20, as I’ve said in the past, you can score as many runs as you want. It’s not about saving one discipline; it’s about one discipline taking care of their job and the other discipline taking care of theirs. But both the possibilities are there; looking at how exciting or spicy the pitch will be."

When asked about the soreness in his back and whether he was match fit, he iterated, “ I’m feeling absolutely fine. It’s been an issue that’s been coming on and off again. I got it in 2011 first time and it happens with workload, the back is such a thing that you don’t know when it’s going to go.

“All you can do is strengthen the muscles around it and work on it. A bit of strengthening, ample rest, proper rehab gets me back into shape. I’ve had it a couple of times before so it’s not a new devil and I knew how to handle it.”

Emphasizing on the conditions and on the need to acclimatize, Virat added, “We have to accept that playing in these conditions, even if you're past a century, you're still not fully set. You could get an unplayable delivery at any point, which as a batsman you have to gracefully accept. But if you're scared, you will be unable to execute the process. The key is to accept the situation and move on quickly.

“But that doesn't mean that you surrender as soon as you get to the wicket. Because before you get a ball with your name on it, you should have the confidence to be able to score runs.

“Our plan is to get runs as a team, whether that comes from 10 batsmen scoring 30 or a lone batsman scoring 200, it doesn't matter. We have to achieve a team total and if you can contribute even 40-45 runs to that, you should be given credit. That will be the mindset with which we enter this match.

“That approach will ease the pressure of personal performance and you will end up respecting the conditions, you won't try things beyond your abilities. We can speak about a lot of things, but what matters is how we perform on the field.”

India outplayed by England, admits Virat Kohli

Nursing a stiff back, the Indian captain is hopeful of recovering before the third Test

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After defeating India by a small margin in the 1st Test, England trounced the visitors by an innings and 159 runs in the 2nd Test at Lord’s, to go 2-0 up in the 5 match series.

It was a Test match that lasted 107.2 overs, much in England’s favour from the word go. After having won the toss and opting to bowl first in overcast conditions, the hosts were in the ascendancy pretty much from the time they won the toss and chose to bowl. They never looked back after they dismantled India cheaply in the first innings and then further pressed home their advantage with the bat on the back of some fine batting from Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes.

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“Not very proud of the way we played, to be honest. First time in the last five Test matches that we've been outplayed. Credit must go to England. They were clinical. When a team plays like that they deserve to be on the winning side. (I) can't really think about those things (conditions not in favour). You have to counter the conditions as and when they come to you. Can't crib about these things. Sometimes the rub of the green will go your way too but I won't sit around and say that we didn't have the best of conditions. Their bowlers were relentless with the ball,” said the Indian skipper after the match.

While Day 1 of the play was washed out to rain, Day 2 was a delight for the likes of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad. Talking about the conditions, Virat added, “The weather was unpredictable. It was different when we started then it changed suddenly, [but] I think we got the combination a bit off before the game. We have a chance to correct that in the next game. Two-nil down, the only option is to come out positive, make it 2-1 and make it an exciting series from there.”

Kohli’s back stiffness was a concern throughout in the second innings as he trudged while taking singles and called for the physio for treatment. Elaborating on the same, he added, “The good thing is I have five days before the next Test. We are confident with rehab and strengthening and I should be ready for the next game although not (with) the same intensity in the field but I should be good enough to hold a position in the field and be 100% with the bat. Again, I will have to look at the running bit of things, which was difficult today. As of now, it is sore."